Special educator pleads no contest in assault case at Derby Elementary School

NEWPORT — A 47-year-old special educator employed by North Country Supervisory Union accused of assaulting a child at Derby Elementary School, pled no contest to a charge of cruelty to a child under ten years of age.

Kimberly Swett, of Derby Line, saw a second charge of simple assault dismissed on Tuesday and was handed a suspended sentence of one-to-two-years for the incident, which took place on March 20.

According to court records, the situation started when Swett was having difficulties with a six-year-old student with developmental disabilities. The issue was over which bathroom the student should be using.

The affidavit states that Swett took the student by the wrist out of a bathroom he was not scheduled to use. The student is more comfortable using a knotted rope, holding one end while a teacher holds the other, instead of holding hands.

Swett requested help from another paraprofessional at the school to move the child into another room. When the child was inside the room, he threw a chair, and while reaching for another, she hit him in the back with the knotted rope.

The rope was about an inch and a half thick, 18 inches long.

Swett was sent home afterward so that the incident could be investigated. She left a statement of what happened before leaving, which concluded, “I cannot do this anymore.”

In court she received a one-to-two year sentence, all suspended. She was placed on probation for two years under standard and special conditions, which states no contact with the victim.

Swett will have to do 200 hours of community service and is no longer allowed employment that involves supervision of children or working with children.